Fetuses with polyhydramnios are at risk for a number of other problems including cord prolapse, placental abruption, premature birth and perinatal death.

[6] In another study, all patients with polyhydramnios, that had a sonographically normal fetus, showed no chromosomal anomalies.

These include a maternal history of diabetes mellitus, Rh incompatibility between the fetus and mother, intrauterine infection, and multiple pregnancies.

In the mother, the physician may observe increased abdominal size out of proportion for her weight gain and gestation age, uterine size that outpaces gestational age, shiny skin with stria (seen mostly in severe polyhydramnios), dyspnea, and chest heaviness.

When examining the fetus, faint fetal heart sounds are also an important clinical sign of this condition.